2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT Review

Tired of pickups too big for city parking spots and tight garages? I know the struggle—I tested many large trucks myself. However, not all trucks are created equal, there some smaller trucks that are more like SUVs than “true” trucks, but they meet the needs of a large group of consumers. The compact 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT is one such truck.

It mixes pickup toughness with SUV comfort, making city driving easy but still able to handle outdoor fun. Keep reading—this could be just the truck you’ve been looking for.

What’s New for 2025?

For 2025, Hyundai gave this truck a fresh look and some upgrades aimed at off-road fans. The XRT trim got special attention—making it bolder than before.

Updated front grille and fascia

Looking at the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT, the updated front grille stood out right away. This redesigned grille is wider, blockier, and loaded with chrome details that really amp up its truck-like appearance.

On my test model—the tough-looking XRT trim—it even came blacked-out to dial in a stronger off road aesthetic.

The fresh fascia adds more style too—bright new daytime running lights cut sharply into the design, paired nicely with bold wheel designs that catch eyes on every drive.

Hyundai nailed it—with this new face, the Santa Cruz finally feels rugged enough for weekend adventures.

Redesigned daytime running lights

The redesigned daytime running lights stood out right away during my time with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT. Compared to last year’s model, Hyundai lowered the number of light elements from 10 down to just 8, giving them a clean yet bold look for the exterior makeover.

The new lighting arrangement sharply frames the updated front fascia and grille update; it catches eyes, adds style, and brings a tougher edge to vehicle appearance.

On my test drive around town at dusk, these refreshed automotive lighting elements were brighter and clearer than earlier versions I’ve tried—helping me spot road hazards faster without blinding other drivers.

They boosted both visibility and personality—a nice balance of practicality and styling enhancements. Hyundai nailed this detail in their latest exterior redesign effort for sure.

Enhanced off-road features in the XRT trim

I took the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT out to test its enhanced off-road features on tough terrain. The sport-tuned independent multi-link rear suspension made it easy to handle rough trails, giving me stable and smooth control at every turn.

Switching between different drive mode options was quick and simple, letting me adjust for mud, sand, or gravel with just one click. With HTRAC all-wheel drive delivering improved grip in tricky conditions and an eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission system providing consistent power, tackling rocky slopes felt almost effortless—proof that this trim is truly built for adventure and reliable performance over demanding ground.

Pricing and Trim Options

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers various trims to match your needs and budget. I’ll give you the lowdown on pricing, with special attention to what the new XRT trim brings to the table.

Starting price and available trims

In Canada, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in three trims. The base Preferred trim has a starting price of $41,999, the XRT trim (our review car) starts at $47,499, and the top of the line Santa Cruz Ultimate has a price of $50,499. These prices do not include Freight & PDI, other fees and levies, and sales taxes.

The entire model lineup offers plenty of variant selections—whether it’s entry-level cost you’re after or premium features.

My preferred choice is definitely the new XRT trim level. It comes with rugged enhancements that suit my style: upgraded off-road gear and unique design touches not found in other available configurations.

For anyone wanting something special without stepping up to Limited edition choices priced higher, XRT hits an exciting balance between performance and value.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The turbocharged powertrain in the XRT was impressive. This boosted engine option puts out an impressive 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 lb-ft of torque between 1,700-4,000 rpm with its 2.5-liter turbo motor—plenty of muscle for daily drives or weekend fun.

Paired up with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), shifts feel quick, smooth, and precise; paddle shifters add even more control to each gear change.

This high-performance engine comes standard with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system, providing variable torque-split control that kept me confident both on slippery roads and rough trails alike.

There’s also a new towing drive mode exclusive to XRT and Limited trims designed specifically for hauling heavier loads—like trailers or boats—with ease.

Sport-tuned suspension for the XRT trim

The sport-tuned suspension is comfortable on the road and can handle decently rough roads with ease. The XRT trim has smaller 18-inch wheels compared to the Ultimate trim’s bigger 20-inch set, fitted with softer tires and taller sidewalls for improved ride quality.

The upgraded suspension system includes performance-enhancing parts—possibly coil-over shocks and stiffer sway bars—which deliver enhanced vehicle dynamics. This sporty suspension tuning sharpens handling on twisty roads while high-performance shocks provide better control over bumps.

Towing and Payload Capacity

The 2025 Santa Cruz XRT offers solid towing and payload numbers, giving you plenty of muscle—keep reading to find out if it meets your hauling needs.

Maximum towing & Payload capacity

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT has impressive towing capabilities, it can handle trailers weighing up to 5,000 pounds without any trouble, on all three trims.

The Santa Cruz has a surprising amount of maximum payload capacity, which sits at an impressive 1,411 pounds. That means tools, gear, coolers full of drinks, and more fit easily in one go.

Hyundai keeps it simple by offering the same carrying capacity across all trims.

The cargo bed handled heavy loads smoothly without feeling strained or weighed down. Even top-heavy items stayed steady under that 1,411-pound weight limit. High payload ratings like this mean serious hauling capability for weekend projects or outdoor activities without stress over exceeding gross vehicle weight ratings or load capacities.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Fuel economy matters, and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT proves solid in real-world driving. The turbocharged model scores a decent claimed consumption. The XRT is rated at 12.8/8.9/11.1 liters/100 kilometer in city/highway/combined driving. The Ultimate and Preferred trims are rated at 12.4/8.5/10.7 L/100 km.

Out in the real world with normal driving around town and on the highways, the onboard computer showed 9.8 L/100 km in about 75/25 highway/city driving. With figures like these, vehicle efficiency feels solid enough if eco-friendly driving is on your mind but you aren’t ready yet for hybrid car efficiency or electric vehicle range limitations.

Plus less carbon emissions are always welcome news when thinking of sustainable transportation options over time.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the Santa Cruz XRT feels upscale but ready for adventure. You’ll find plenty of clever storage areas to stash your gear or tools out back.

Seating and space in the cabin

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT offers comfortable seating up front. The cabin space feels roomy, with enough legroom to stretch out on longer drives—I found it easy to drive for hours.

Rear seat comfort is another story: it’s limited compared to Hyundai’s Tucson, offering five inches less rear legroom. Installing a child seat was tricky here due to tighter cabin space; it took some extra effort and patience on my part.

Despite having seating arrangement rated for five passengers, I’d suggest keeping taller friends in front for longer trips.

With seating covered, let’s talk about cargo bed usability and storage solutions next.

Cargo bed usability and storage solutions

The cargo bed in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT stands out for truck bed functionality. Recently, I loaded up a new grill and some camping gear into its four-foot truck bed—it handled bulky item transport with ease.

The lockable tonneau cover added peace of mind, providing secure cargo storage while keeping my equipment away from prying eyes. Inside, there’s also versatile in-bed storage similar to what you’d see on the Honda Ridgeline; it let me store smaller items like tools without cluttering the bed itself.

Another useful addition is the sleek built-in trunk beneath the floor of this pickup’s truck bed. This hidden compartment gives convenient additional storage solutions—perfect for groceries or sports gear—and keeps them safe from weather or theft.

Between its handy lockable bed cover and smartly placed compartments, I’ve found that cargo organization couldn’t be simpler thanks to these clever cargo bed features in the Santa Cruz XRT.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Inside, I found the tech setup easy to use and quick to respond. Connecting my smartphone took seconds—exactly what I’d want in a daily driver.

Display size and features

I spent time with the infotainment system on the 2025 Santa Cruz XRT, and the dual 12.3-inch screens caught my attention right away. The digital instrument cluster sits clearly behind the wheel, giving me all driving details in an interactive display that’s easy to use.

Next to it is a bright, sharp 12.3-inch touchscreen interface for infotainment features like smartphone compatibility and multimedia integration.

The new entertainment system pairs quickly with my phone—Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work smoothly—and four fast USB-C charging ports keep all devices powered up during drives.

Touch response was quick, menus clear and simple to navigate; Hyundai has done well making tech convenient without overwhelming users with confusing controls or complicated options.

Smartphone integration options

The Santa Cruz XRT makes using my phone in the truck easy. The standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen pairs wirelessly right away with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—no cords needed, just jump in and go.

With smartphone integration this simple, I can stream music, handle calls hands-free, or follow maps without hassle—the kind of convenient incar entertainment any guy would appreciate.

Wireless connectivity between my mobile device and the Hyundai infotainment system feels smooth every time I’ve hopped behind the wheel so far. It supports fast connections to both major platforms (Android or iPhone), giving me quick access to messages, apps like Spotify for music streaming, podcasts on longer drives—pretty much everything I need from car connectivity on a busy day.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Santa Cruz XRT packs plenty of smart safety tech to keep you secure behind the wheel. It even scored well in crash-tests, which adds peace of mind for daily driving or weekend trips.

Key safety technologies

I appreciate having smart tech to keep me safe wherever I drive—and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT has plenty. Every trim, including the rugged XRT model, comes standard with forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking.

Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist are also part of the basic package. I found blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert especially useful when backing out from crowded parking spots or merging on busy highways.

Hyundai packs a full set of advanced driver assistance features into this pickup. The collision avoidance system quickly alerts me if traffic suddenly stops ahead, while driver’s assists like lane departure prevention steer gently so I can stay safely centered in my lane without drifting.

Blind spot detection is always active in my side mirrors— giving clear signals if another vehicle hides just outside my sight lines—making highway driving stress-free every day.

NHTSA safety rating

Safety matters to me a lot, so it’s good news the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT earned a five-star overall vehicle safety rating from NHTSA. The pickup comes with standard driver assistance systems like forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning system and lane keeping assist technology.

It also offers options such as adaptive cruise control and has a standard driver-attention warning to help prevent fatigue on longer rides. With these collision avoidance technologies backing me up, feeling secure behind the wheel gets much easier.

Final Thoughts on The Hyundai Santa Cruz Pick Up Truck

After driving the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT for a week, I’m impressed by its balance of comfort and capability. The off-road features stood out, making trail drives easy. Despite some tighter space in the back seat, its city-friendly size offers great convenience around town or on weekend trips.

With punchy performance, a plush cabin and unique design—this little truck is ready for adventure. For those who want a versatile pickup with style and function, the Santa Cruz XRT delivers across the board.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT Review Photo Gallery

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